Delegates to Congress . Letters of delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, Volume 16, September 1 1780-February 28 1781
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Willie Jones to To: Abner Nash


Dr sr.
Philada. Sept. 6. 1780.

   Mr. Hill & myself wrote you a long Lettr. of 15th Augt .-to which I beg leave to refer. Your 2 Lettrs. of Augt. 6 (to the Delegates, and to me) came to hand yesterday. I am very sorry for the Distresses of the State and for your Embarrasments. I hope the Assembly by this time will be convinced by Experience of the good or ill policy of the Laws passed at the last Session, and will without prejudice or passion repeal or continue them, upon that principle; You observe that the State has Strength & Resources equal to her Defence & sufficient for the present critical Occasion; but that proper Laws have not been enacted to call them forth. I was myself at the last Assembly at Newbern, and can say from Observation that those Members who did not attend shewed the greatest Willingness to adopt every Measure which appeared to them necessary for the Security & Intt. of the Country; if they failed it was on Accot. of the Multiplication of Business before them, and for [lack] of Judgment not of Inclination: but no Apology in my Opinion can justify those Gentlemen who undertook to serve their respective Counties, and neglected to attend & discharge their Duty, when the critical Situation of the State so pressingly demanded their Labours & abilities. Surely every Man must now be roused by the Defeat of Genl Gates's army to a Sense of their Danger, and I flatter myself that they will join with Unanimity, Wisdom & Fortitude in every Measure which may tend


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to avert the impending Ruin. I will give you a short State of Affairs here, from whence you may the better judge what is necessary to be done by the Assembly of No. Carolina. Genl. Washingtons army is now reduced to the Lines of the New England States, N. York & Pensylvania, with one new Regiment of Mary Land troops 500. Many of these consist of new Recruits raised for 6 months, and the Enlistments of many of the Veterans expire in January next; so that by the month of Febry. the Contl. army under his commd. will probably not exceed 5000 Men. He has stated this matter to Congress and pressed most earnestly that the Contl. Battalions be compleated to serve during the war, by the Month of Jany; and Congress is now deliberating on the Subject, and will no doubt urge the proposition to the States: probably they will not be able to comply with the Requisitions in point of time & if they do, I think it will be very difficult if not impossible to prevail on Congress to order any of the Contl. Troops from Philada. Eastward to the Defence of No. Carolina during the ensuing Winter. Possibly the Maryland Regiment & some Cavalry may be ordered to the So. ward; but you must not depend even on this. Virginia & No. Carolina will probably have the whole weight of the Southern War on their Shoulders, during the ensuing winter, and our assembly ought to provide accordingly.

   If the 2d Division of the French Fleet destined for america should arrive this Fall, and give us a Superiority on the Water there will be no great Danger in No. Carolina; indeed every thing might be retrieved, as the French Troops would probably be employed in the Southern Departmt. if provisions could be procured for subsisting them but Genl. Washington informed us yesterday (1) that the 2d Division was blocked up in the Harbour of Brest by the British Fleet. We will then suppose the British Fleet to be superior on our Coasts during the Winter; in which Case it is probable that Genl. Clinton will detach a strong Reinforcement to Charlestown and that a vigorous Winter Campaign will be carried on against No. Carolina. Under these Circumstances Militia alone can not be adequate to the Defence of our State, therefore I condude it is indispensably necessary that our Contl. Battalions should be completed, whatever Expence may accrue or Difficulties occur on the Subject.

   Graves's fleet left the East End of Long Island Saturday week and stood to Sea; we have not heard of their Arrival at N. York. The Board of War before my Brothers Departure 2 ordered 2000 Stand of arms to No. Carolina via the Bay; the Vessel was chased and obliged to land their arms; but they have been since ordered on, but I cant tell to what place. Congress proposes to borrow some arms from Virginia for your immediate Use, and to replace them at a short period. I wish our assembly would make some further Efforts for supplying the State with arms & Military Stores. A Laboratory is established at Richmond for the purpose of supplying the Southern



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   Department with various military Stores. The Board of War have prepared 300 pistols & Swords for Whites & Washingtons Cavalry & have sent them or will immediately send them to Baltimore, to go from thence with Saddles which are making there for the same Cavalry. With some Difficulty I have found the Goods left here by Capt. Read. There is a hhd & a box; but I know not what they contain, nor is it possible for me to send them on at present. <I think it is essentially necessary that our assembly make vigorous Exertions to procure small arms e Cloathing for their Troops.>

   Congress I believe expect no Money or provisions from Virginia and No. Carolina for Northern purposes. Our State must establish Magazines of provisions and now is the time to do it.

   Not a Shilling in the Contl. Treasury.

   If any thing wanted Assembly to require it; Ought to call for new Maryd. Regt. & Lees Corps.

   Naval Comms. shall be sent.


Note:

    (Nc-Ar: Legislative Papers). In the hand of Willie Jones, and endorsed by him: "Copy Lr. to Govr. Nash, Sept. 6. 1780."



1 Washington's letter of August 28 informing Congress "of the second Division being blocked up in Brest" was read September 4, rather than "yesterday. " See JCC, 17:802; and Washington, Writings (Fitzpatrick), 19:462-63.



2 That is, Allen Jones, for whose departure from Congress see Allen Jones to Unknown, June 13, 1780, note 3.